Music teacher charged with criminal sexual conduct

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Charges have been filed against a Twin Cities music teacher who is accused of having sexual conduct with a male student.

Eden Prairie Police say 29-year-old Robert James Ladwig of Coon Rapids was charged with fourth degree criminal sexual conduct on October 9.

Investigators say the charges against Ladwig are related to an incident that occurred June 27 while the defendant was teaching a private music lesson in an Eden Prairie home. Police allege that the 13-year-old male victim was repeatedly touched inappropriately during in-home music lessons over a three-month period.

A criminal complaint says Ladwig started giving the boy massages, and eventually ended up rubbing the teen near his groin.

The young victim also says that at one point Ladwig laid on him on a couch.

This is not Ladwig's first run-in with the law: Criminal records indicate he previously pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct for an incident in 2011 where he kissed a young female student on the lip. Ladwig revealed to his ex-wife in 2011 that he had received counseling for his struggles with child pornography.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman says Ladwig is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 6.

Eden Prairie Police are reminding parents about the importance of maintaining open communication with children and asking detailed questions about what takes place when children are in the care of another adult.

They say anything that seems suspicious should be reported to local law enforcement.